Hurricane a disaster for many travelers

Planes, trains and even automobiles and buses were affected by the storm

Updated 9:33 pm, Monday, October 29, 2012

Photo: Ww

Image 1of/1

Caption

Close

Image 1 of 1

Colleen Holloway, left, and her father Tom Steigerwald, right, examine the flight board at Albany International Airport, Monday morning, Oct. 29, 2012. Holloway was lucky enough to make her flight back to Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Many flights in the northeast were canceled because of Hurricane Sandy. (Will Waldron / Times Union) less

Colleen Holloway, left, and her father Tom Steigerwald, right, examine the flight board at Albany International Airport, Monday morning, Oct. 29, 2012. Holloway was lucky enough to make her flight back to Fort ... more

Photo: Ww

Hurricane a disaster for many travelers

1 / 1

Back to Gallery

RENSSELAER — Not everyone getting off the Lake Shore Limited on Monday afternoon wanted to be here.

Marc Nelson, a New York City resident, said he'd boarded an Amtrak train in Los Angeles more than two days earlier and didn't learn that his connection in Chicago — the Lake Shore — wouldn't be going any farther than Albany until he boarded Sunday evening.

Rail and air service to New York City was suspended as Hurricane Sandy pounded the city with winds and floodwaters.

Like several other passengers, Nelson headed to the ticket counter, hoping to get a hotel room until he could continue his journey to New York City.

Travel disruptions were expected to continue Tuesday.

Amtrak said it was suspending all trains out of New York City, including the Empire service through Albany, a second day, as well as its trains to Rutland and Montreal via Albany. Only the Maple Leaf would operate, and only between Albany and Toronto.

Delta Air Lines said it was planning to resume service out of Albany late Tuesday morning, according to airport spokesman Doug Myers.

Southwest's first departure from Albany was scheduled for 12:10 p.m. Tuesday, while United's first Albany departure would be at 5:10 p.m. Tuesday to the airline's Chicago hub.

A United spokesman said the airline hoped to have additional service to its hubs at Washington Dulles and Newark by Wednesday, if conditions permit.

US Airways was to resume Albany service beginning at 2:40 p.m. on Tuesday, Myers said.

Greyhound suspended service from Albany to New York City, Boston and Syracuse until further notice.

The state's canal system shut down Monday evening, and portions would reopen as conditions allow, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced.

The Tappan Zee Bridge across the Hudson River closed at 4 p.m. Monday and was to remain closed until conditions improved.

Farther south, some bridges and tunnels were being closed in the New York metropolitan area.

Locally, the Capital District Transportation Authority continued to operate its bus system, but advised passengers that some rerouting and delays might occur if flooding or street blockages became a problem.